Process for making tissue or towel products comprising nanofilaments

Abstract

A process for making absorbent towel paper webs is provided. The process comprises the steps of (a) providing a papermaking furnish having from about 45% to about 90% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the tissue towel paper web of a refined softwood pulp fiber mixture having from about 20.0% to about 88.5% by weight of softwood pulp fiber and from about 0.05% to about 5.0% by weight of strengthening additive and from about 10% to about 55% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the absorbent towel paper web of a hardwood pulp fiber mixture having from about 9.9% to about 54.9% by weight of hardwood pulp fibers and from about 0.05% to about 20.0% by weight cellulose nanofilaments; (b) forming a wet fibrous web from the paper making furnish; and, (c) drying the web until the web contains not more than about 10% by weight moisture.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A process for making an absorbent towel paper web comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a papermaking furnish comprising:
 i) from about 45% to about 90% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the absorbent towel paper web of a softwood pulp fiber mixture comprising:
 u) from about 20.0% to about 88.5% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the absorbent towel paper web of softwood pulp fiber,
 wherein the softwood pulp fiber is optionally refined before being added to the mixture; and, 
 
 v) from about 0.05% to about 5.0% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the absorbent towel paper web of strengthening additive; and, 
 
 ii) from about 10% to about 55% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the absorbent towel paper web of a hardwood pulp fiber mixture comprising;
 w) from about 9.9% to about 54.9% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the absorbent towel paper web of hardwood pulp fibers; and, 
 x) from about 0.05% to about 20.0% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the absorbent towel paper web of cellulose nanofilaments; and, 
 
 iii) optionally up to about 20% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the absorbent towel paper web of a fibrillated manmade cellulose; and 
 iv) optionally up to about 20% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the absorbent towel paper web of non-wood natural fibers; 
 v) optionally up to about 20% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the absorbent towel paper web of non-cellulosic fibers; and, 
 
 (b) forming a wet fibrous web having a differential density from said paper making furnish; and, 
 (c) drying said differential density wet fibrous web until said dry differential density wet fibrous web contains not more than about 10% by weight moisture to form the absorbent towel paper web. 
 
     
     
       2. The process according to  claim 1  wherein the softwood pulp fiber mixture of the papermaking furnish further comprises greater than about 1.0% by weight of the absorbent towel paper web of a chemical papermaking additive selected from the group consisting of debonders, silicones, softening additives, absorbency additives and aesthetic additives. 
     
     
       3. The process according to  claim 1  wherein the softwood pulp fiber mixture further comprises:
 y) from 0% to about 3.0% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the absorbent towel paper web of a debonder; and, 
 z) from 0% to about 3.0% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the absorbent towel paper web of a silicone. 
 
     
     
       4. The process according to  claim 1  wherein the cellulose nanofilaments are blended to the hardwood pulp fiber mixture before the strengthening additive. 
     
     
       5. The process according to  claim 1  wherein the cellulose nanofilaments are blended to the hardwood pulp fiber mixture after the strengthening additive. 
     
     
       6. A process for making a soft sanitary tissue paper web comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a papermaking furnish comprising:
 i) from about 2% to about 56.5% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the soft sanitary tissue paper web of a softwood pulp fiber mixture comprising:
 u) from greater than about 0% to about 56.4% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the soft sanitary tissue paper web of softwood pulp fiber,
 wherein the softwood pulp fiber is optionally refined before being added to the mixture; and, 
 
 v) from about 0.05% to about 3.0% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the soft sanitary tissue paper web of strengthening additive; and, 
 
 ii) from about 43.5% to about 99.9% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the soft sanitary tissue paper web of a hardwood pulp fiber mixture;
 w) from about 43.4% to about 99.4% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the soft sanitary tissue paper web of hardwood pulp fibers; and, 
 x) from about 0.05% to about 20.0% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the soft sanitary tissue paper web of cellulose nanofilaments; and, 
 
 iii) optionally up to about 20% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the soft sanitary tissue paper web of a fibrillated manmade cellulose; and, 
 iv) optionally up to about 20% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the soft sanitary tissue paper web of non-wood natural fibers; and, 
 v) optionally up to about 20% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the soft sanitary tissue paper web of non-cellulosic fibers; and, 
 
 (b) forming a wet fibrous web having a differential density from said paper making furnish; and, 
 (c) drying said differential density wet fibrous web until said web contains not more than about 10% by weight moisture to form the soft sanitary tissue paper web. 
 
     
     
       7. The process according to  claim 6  wherein the softwood pulp fiber mixture of the papermaking furnish further comprises greater than about 1.0% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the soft sanitary tissue paper web of a chemical papermaking additive selected from the group consisting of debonders, silicones, softening additives, absorbency additives and aesthetic additives. 
     
     
       8. The process according to  claim 6  wherein the softwood pulp fiber mixture further comprises:
 x.) from 0% to about 3.0% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the soft sanitary tissue paper web of a debonder; and, 
 y.) from 0% to about 3.0% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the soft sanitary tissue paper web of a silicone. 
 
     
     
       9. The process for making absorbent towel paper webs according to  claim 8  wherein the softwood pulp fiber mixture of the papermaking furnish further comprises greater than about 1.0% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the absorbent towel paper web of a chemical papermaking additive selected from the group consisting of debonders, silicones, softening additives, absorbency additives and aesthetic additives. 
     
     
       10. The process according to  claim 6  wherein the cellulose nanofilaments are blended to the hardwood pulp fiber mixture before the strengthening additive. 
     
     
       11. The process according to  claim 6  wherein the cellulose nanofilaments are blended into the hardwood pulp fiber mixture after the strengthening additive. 
     
     
       12. A process for making an absorbent towel paper web comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a papermaking furnish comprising:
 i) from about 45% to about 90% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the absorbent towel paper web of a softwood pulp fiber mixture comprising:
 u) from about 20.0% to about 89.9% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the absorbent towel paper web of softwood pulp fiber,
 wherein the softwood pulp fiber is optionally refined before being added to the mixture; and, 
 
 v) from about 0.05% to about 5.0% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the absorbent towel paper web of strengthening additive; and, 
 
 ii) from about 10% to about 55% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the absorbent towel paper web of a hardwood pulp fiber mixture comprising
 y) from about 9.9% to about 49.9% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the absorbent towel paper web of a hardwood pulp fiber; and, 
 z) from about 0.05% to about 20.0% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the absorbent towel paper web of a blend of micro- and nano-sized cellulose filaments, wherein the blend comprises:
 A) at least about 40% by weight of the blend of cellulose nanofilaments; 
 B) at least about 20% by weight of the blend of intact fibrillated fibers; and, 
 C) at least about 10% by weight of the blend of cellulosic fines; and, 
 
 
 iii) optionally up to about 20% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the absorbent towel paper web of a fibrillated manmade cellulose; and, 
 iv) optionally up to about 20% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the absorbent towel paper web of non-wood natural fibers; and, 
 v) optionally up to about 20% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the absorbent towel paper web of non-cellulosic fibers; and, 
 
 (b) forming a wet fibrous web having a differential destiny from said paper making furnish; and, 
 (c) drying said differential destiny web fibrous web until said dry differential density web contains not more than about 10% by weight moisture to form the absorbent towel paper web. 
 
     
     
       13. The process according to  claim 12  wherein the cellulose nanofilaments are blended into the softwood pulp fiber mixture after the strengthening additive. 
     
     
       14. A process for making a soft sanitary tissue paper web comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a papermaking furnish comprising:
 i) from about 2% to about 56.5% by weight of by weight of the dry fiber basis of the soft sanitary tissue paper web of a softwood pulp fiber mixture comprising:
 u) from greater than about 0% to about 56.4% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the soft sanitary tissue paper web of softwood pulp fiber,
 wherein the softwood pulp fiber is optionally refined before being added to the mixture; 
 and, 
 
 w) from about 0.05% to about 3.0% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the soft sanitary tissue paper web of strengthening additive; and, 
 
 ii) from about 43.5% to about 99.9% by weight of the by weight of the dry fiber basis of the soft sanitary tissue paper web of a hardwood pulp fiber mixture comprising:
 y) from about 43.4% to about 99.4% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the soft sanitary tissue paper web of hardwood pulp fibers; and, 
 z) from about 0.05% to about 20.0% by weight of the by weight of the dry fiber basis of the soft sanitary tissue paper web of a blend of micro- and nano-sized cellulose filaments, wherein the blend comprises:
 A) at least about 50% by weight of the blend of cellulose nanofilaments; 
 B) at least about 20% by weight of the blend of intact fibrilated fibers; and, 
 C) at least about 20% by weight of the blend of cellulosic fines; and, 
 
 
 iii) optionally up to about 20% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the soft sanitary tissue paper web of a fibrillated manmade cellulose; and 
 iv) optionally up to about 20% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the soft sanitary tissue paper web of non-wood natural fibers; 
 v) optionally up to about 20% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the soft sanitary tissue paper web of non-cellulosic fibers; and 
 
 (b) forming a wet fibrous web having a differential density from said paper making furnish; and, 
 (c) drying said differential density wet fibrous web until said dry differential density web contains not more than about 10% by weight moisture to form the soft sanitary tissue paper web. 
 
     
     
       15. The process according to  claim 14  wherein the softwood pulp fiber mixture of the papermaking furnish further comprises greater than about 1.0% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the soft sanitary tissue paper web of a chemical papermaking additive selected from the group consisting of debonders, silicones, strength additives, softening additives, absorbency additives and aesthetic additives. 
     
     
       16. The process according to  claim 14  wherein the cellulose nanofilaments are blended into the softwood pulp fiber mixture after the strengthening additive. 
     
     
       17. A process for making an absorbent towel paper web comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a papermaking furnish comprising:
 i) from about 45% to about 90.0% by weight of the papermaking furnish of a soft wood pulp fiber mixture comprising:
 u) from about 20.0% to about 89.9% by weight of the papermaking furnish of soft wood pulp fiber;
 wherein the soft wood pulp fiber is optionally refined before being added to the mixture; and, 
 
 v) from about 0.05% to about 5.0% by weight of the papermaking furnish of strengthening additive; and, 
 
 ii) from about 10.0% to about 55.0% by weight of the papermaking furnish of a hardwood pulp fiber mixture comprising hardwood pulp fibers; and, 
 iii) from about 0.05% to about 20.0% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the papermaking furnish of cellulose nanofilaments added to the mixture of soft wood pulp and hardwood pulp; and, 
 iii) optionally up to about 20% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the papermaking furnish of a fibrillated manmade cellulose; and, 
 iv) optionally up to about 20% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the papermaking furnish of non-wood natural fibers; 
 v) optionally up to about 20% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the papermaking furnish of non-cellulosic fibers; and, 
 
 (b) forming a wet fibrous web having a differential density from said paper making furnish; and, 
 (c) drying said differential density wet fibrous web until said dry differential density web contains not more than about 6% by weight moisture to form the absorbent towel paper web. 
 
     
     
       18. A process for making a soft sanitary tissue paper web comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a papermaking furnish comprising:
 i) from about 2% to about 56.5% by weight of the papermaking furnish of a soft wood pulp fiber mixture comprising:
 u) from greater than about 0% to about 56.4% by weight of the papermaking furnish of soft wood pulp fiber,
 wherein the soft wood pulp fiber is optionally refined before being added to the mixture; 
 
 v) from about 0.05% to about 3.0% by weight of the papermaking furnish of cationic strengthening polymer, 
 
 ii) from about 43.5% to about 99.9% by weight of the papermaking furnish of a hard wood pulp fiber mixture comprising hardwood pulp fibers; and, 
 iii) from about 0.05% to about 20.0% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the papermaking furnish web of cellulose nanofilaments added to the mixture of soft wood pulp fiber and hardwood pulp fiber; and, 
 iii) optionally up to about 20% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the papermaking furnish of a fibrillated manmade cellulose; and, 
 iv) optionally up to about 20% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the papermaking furnish of non-wood natural fibers; 
 v) optionally up to about 20% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the papermaking furnish of non-cellulosic fibers; and, 
 
 (b) forming a wet fibrous web having a differential density from said paper making furnish; 
 (c) drying said differential density wet fibrous web until said dry differential density web contains not more than about 6% by weight moisture to form the soft sanitary tissue paper web.